Whether it’s quality of teachers or resources or lunch or one of a million other factors, schools provide a clear lens on many aspects of our society - the good and the bad. The power of hope, aspiration and challenge, but also inequality – where it exists and how it proliferates.

And while this issue is incredibly complicated and nuanced to fix, there are some people and organizations ambitious enough, brave enough to tackle it.

DC Greens is one of them. Working inside schools at every level of the institution, outside in gardens, throughout the communities where students live and among the country’s decision-makers, this team is solving for one important offender to equality: food.

And DC Greens is finding creative solutions to address this issue - a curriculum for teachers who want to bring food education into the classroom, a Produce Plus program that provides greater access to fresh foods through the DC farmers markets, a fruits and vegetables prescription program in local clinics, and a series of opportunities for young people in this city to learn about food from every angle - health and wellness, cooking, gardening and even business.

DC Greens is arming people not with pamphlets but with real, hands-on understanding and tools to ensure access and knowledge about how food can impact our lives is not one of the barriers kids have to break through just to get an equal footing as they step into the world.

And they’re raising awareness about the severity of this challenge with others in the community who can contribute – either financially or with their own skills and networks. Chefs, restaurants, lawmakers, cultural tastemakers and others from across the area's food system who have a voice people are listening to, they're helping DC Greens effect even greater change.

You'll see some of these people and organizations - including Spike Mendelsohn, Rob Weland, Daniel Giusti, Chaia, Gordy's, Green Hat Gin, in these photos from DC Greens’ Spring Dig event.

I’m proud of the work DC Greens is doing in my city and am excited to continue documenting their impact as it grows.

A new apparel company launched in DC last week, and its raison d’etre is pretty sweet: Celebrate the vibrant places around town that make DC so exquisite in the minds of the people who live here every day.

With a line of t-shirts designed around DC neighborhoods, parks and special spots, this company is giving folks a way to show off their favorite corners of the city.

It’s called Teerritory, and the company is DC through and through. Toby Bokum-Fauth designs and produces every piece, and the shirts are printed right here in town at DC Shirt and Print Co. And I was thrilled to shoot their launch photos this spring. Not only because Teerritory is the brainchild of one of my most favorite DC residents, but also because I got to work with my gorgeous buddies as the models and spend a few days motorcycling around town – neighborhood to neighborhood.

When I first moved to DC, I lived across from the Supreme Court and spent all of my spare time running the Mall, exploring the monuments and taking in the museums. I was totally infatuated. And while those post card-inspiring spots still take my breath away, it’s in the areas off those Smithsonian-lined blocks that I found the true heartbeat of DC. A community that has kept me exploring and growing and loving the city.

Having lived here for 5+ years now, I’m thrilled to see someone shining the light on the delightful blocks and charming street corners that have become so familiar to me – and so many others local to DC – over the years: The bridge in Rock Creek Park, the giant red and black mural in Adams Morgan, the beautiful steeple-topped houses in Bloomingdale, the view of Meridian Hill Park (or Malcolm X Park - whichever you know it by), and Upshur Street in Petworth.

You can see some of these designs (any my dog Penny!) in the shots here, and find all of them all at teerritory.com, where you can also submit ideas for the next Teerritory design!